The Long War: Unraveling The Afghanistan Conflict Euphemism

The War in Afghanistan was an armed conflict that lasted from 2001 to 2021. It was a direct response to the September 11 attacks, which were plotted by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was harboured by the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The conflict began when an international military coalition led by the United States launched an invasion of Afghanistan, declaring Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the earlier-declared war on terror. The US-led forces toppled the Taliban regime and established the Islamic Republic.

The euphemisms used to describe the war in Afghanistan include collateral damage for civilian casualties, enhanced interrogation techniques for torture, and targeted killings for drone assassinations. These terms are used to minimise the harsh realities of war.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan

The first phase, which was brief, lasted just two months. It involved the US-led coalition forces toppling the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate and establishing the Islamic Republic. The Taliban and its allies were expelled from major population centres by the US-led forces, supporting the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.

The US-led coalition forces remained in Afghanistan, forming a security mission (ISAF) sanctioned by the United Nations, with the goal of creating a new democratic authority in the country that would prevent the Taliban from returning to power. A new Afghan Interim Administration was established, and international rebuilding efforts were launched.

The second phase, from 2002 until 2008, was marked by a US strategy of defeating the Taliban militarily and rebuilding core institutions of the Afghan state. The third phase, a turn to classic counterinsurgency doctrine, began in 2008 and accelerated with US President Barack Obama's decision to temporarily increase the US troop presence in Afghanistan.

The Taliban's resurgence

The US and its allies made several attempts to counter the Taliban's resurgence, including troop surges, drone strikes, and targeted operations. However, the Taliban adapted their tactics and took advantage of mistakes made by coalition forces, such as civilian casualties and the failure to capture high-level Taliban leaders.

The US-Taliban deal

The agreement was not a final peace deal and was filled with ambiguity. It was designed to be a stepping stone to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict and not a replacement for an Afghan agreement. The deal addressed four main issues:

• Ceasefire: Negotiators agreed to a temporary reduction in violence and said that a lasting ceasefire among US, Taliban, and Afghan forces would be part of intra-Afghan negotiations.
• Withdrawal of foreign forces: The US agreed to reduce its troops in Afghanistan from 12,000 to 8,600 within 135 days. If the Taliban followed through on its commitments, all US and other foreign troops would leave Afghanistan within 14 months.
• Intra-Afghan negotiations: The Taliban agreed to start talks with the Afghan government in March 2020.
• Counterterrorism assurances: The Taliban guaranteed that Afghanistan will not be used by any of its members or terrorist groups to threaten the security of the US and its allies.

The fall of Kabul

In the months before the fall, many in the United States Intelligence Community estimated that Kabul would be taken at least six months after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan was completed. However, beginning in May 2021, even while the withdrawal was occurring, the Taliban was able to take most of Afghanistan's provinces in rapid succession during a major offensive.

On 15 August 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul and seized control of the presidential palace. The city had fallen in a matter of hours, shocking the world. The insurgents then captured the Pul-e-Charkhi prison and released all inmates, including Islamic State and Al-Qaeda militants. When they entered Kabul, Taliban fighters faced little to no resistance from the Afghan National Security Forces.

The fall of the city and the Islamic republic resulted in a surge in refugees trying to escape from the Taliban. In the days following the fall, the US government began erasing public articles and images featuring Afghan civilians from their websites, fearing that the new Taliban government might use those websites to identify and target civilians for reprisals.

The evacuation of Afghanistan

The War in Afghanistan, known as Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014) and Operation Freedom's Sentinel (2015–2021) by the US, was an armed conflict from 2001 to 2021. It was a direct response to the September 11 attacks, with the US-led invasion toppling the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate. The conflict officially ended with the 2021 Taliban offensive, which saw the Taliban retake control of the country.

Several countries launched evacuation operations, including the UK's Operation Pitting and the US's Operation Allies Refuge. The UK's operation involved over 1,000 military personnel and evacuated British and eligible Afghan nationals. The UK government also announced the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme in August 2021, which opened in January 2022 to help Afghans fleeing the Taliban settle in the UK. By 26 August 2021, the UK had evacuated over 13,000 people, and by the end of its evacuation efforts on 28 August, some troops had already left.

The US, with the Taliban's awareness and assistance, evacuated about 82,300 people from Hamid Karzai International Airport between 14 and 25 August 2021, including US citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and vulnerable Afghans. The evacuation was completed on 30 August, one day before the deadline agreed upon with the Taliban. In total, over 122,000 people were airlifted out of Afghanistan.

Other countries that conducted evacuation operations include Canada (Operation AEGIS), India (Operation Devi Shakti), and South Korea (Operation Miracle).

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